Robert Marvel was the son of Robert and Mary (Smith) Marvel. He married Sarah (Wilkins)on August 16, 1827 in Ohio. They settled at Trader's Point, Hendricks County, Indiana in 1835, buying 80 acres and creating a successful farm.
A MARVELOUS FAST.
A dispatch from Indianapolis, of August 20th says:
Robert Marvel, after fasting sixty-seven days, died this morning at seven o'clock. His case is so extraordinary that it has attracted the attention not only of the curious public, but of the medical fraternity far and near. He was eighty-five years old. On June 13th Mr. Marvel ate his last square meal. For thirty-six days he took absolutely nothing into his stomach. One the thirty-eighth he bit off a piece of pie, but did not eat it. On the thirty-ninth he drank a small quantity of milk, and at irregular periods he has continued to do so. All told, he drank not to exceed one gallon of milk in the sixty-seven days that have elapsed since he began to fast. The effect of this abstinence is such as would be expected. The faster had reduced himself to a "living shadow." The case is so far beyond the extraordinary that incredulity has been excited. But there is no occasion for this, as George Hasty, a well known physician of this city, has attended him regularly. The great difficulty in treating him has been his determination to resist all proffered aid. After fasting a full month, he one day arose from his bed, and seizing a pan of water that stood near drank some of it. After that, milk and water were left near him, and occasionally he would rise and drink a little. During the last week Marvel has been bedfast, except at times when he would spring up and wander about the house and porch. Sore came upon him by reason of his long confinement, and evidently Marvel has not only suffered long but severly, though everything possible was done to relieve him.
His fast is the longest on record, so far as known. The most prominent case of voluntary fasting was that of Tanner. It will be recalled that he ate nothing and drank only water for forty days. Marvel lived with his relatives in Pike township, seven miles from the city.
The Lafayette Advertiser; Lafayette, Louisiana.
September 7, 1889; Page One.
A MARVELOUS FAST.
A dispatch from Indianapolis, of August 20th says:
Robert Marvel, after fasting sixty-seven days, died this morning at seven o'clock. His case is so extraordinary that it has attracted the attention not only of the curious public, but of the medical fraternity far and near. He was eighty-five years old. On June 13th Mr. Marvel ate his last square meal. For thirty-six days he took absolutely nothing into his stomach. One the thirty-eighth he bit off a piece of pie, but did not eat it. On the thirty-ninth he drank a small quantity of milk, and at irregular periods he has continued to do so. All told, he drank not to exceed one gallon of milk in the sixty-seven days that have elapsed since he began to fast. The effect of this abstinence is such as would be expected. The faster had reduced himself to a "living shadow." The case is so far beyond the extraordinary that incredulity has been excited. But there is no occasion for this, as George Hasty, a well known physician of this city, has attended him regularly. The great difficulty in treating him has been his determination to resist all proffered aid. After fasting a full month, he one day arose from his bed, and seizing a pan of water that stood near drank some of it. After that, milk and water were left near him, and occasionally he would rise and drink a little. During the last week Marvel has been bedfast, except at times when he would spring up and wander about the house and porch. Sore came upon him by reason of his long confinement, and evidently Marvel has not only suffered long but severly, though everything possible was done to relieve him.
His fast is the longest on record, so far as known. The most prominent case of voluntary fasting was that of Tanner. It will be recalled that he ate nothing and drank only water for forty days. Marvel lived with his relatives in Pike township, seven miles from the city.
The Lafayette Advertiser; Lafayette, Louisiana.
September 7, 1889; Page One.
Robert Marvel was the son of Robert and Mary (Smith) Marvel. He married Sarah (Wilkins)on August 16, 1827 in Ohio. They settled at Trader's Point, Hendricks County, Indiana in 1835, buying 80 acres and creating a successful farm.
A MARVELOUS FAST.
A dispatch from Indianapolis, of August 20th says:
Robert Marvel, after fasting sixty-seven days, died this morning at seven o'clock. His case is so extraordinary that it has attracted the attention not only of the curious public, but of the medical fraternity far and near. He was eighty-five years old. On June 13th Mr. Marvel ate his last square meal. For thirty-six days he took absolutely nothing into his stomach. One the thirty-eighth he bit off a piece of pie, but did not eat it. On the thirty-ninth he drank a small quantity of milk, and at irregular periods he has continued to do so. All told, he drank not to exceed one gallon of milk in the sixty-seven days that have elapsed since he began to fast. The effect of this abstinence is such as would be expected. The faster had reduced himself to a "living shadow." The case is so far beyond the extraordinary that incredulity has been excited. But there is no occasion for this, as George Hasty, a well known physician of this city, has attended him regularly. The great difficulty in treating him has been his determination to resist all proffered aid. After fasting a full month, he one day arose from his bed, and seizing a pan of water that stood near drank some of it. After that, milk and water were left near him, and occasionally he would rise and drink a little. During the last week Marvel has been bedfast, except at times when he would spring up and wander about the house and porch. Sore came upon him by reason of his long confinement, and evidently Marvel has not only suffered long but severly, though everything possible was done to relieve him.
His fast is the longest on record, so far as known. The most prominent case of voluntary fasting was that of Tanner. It will be recalled that he ate nothing and drank only water for forty days. Marvel lived with his relatives in Pike township, seven miles from the city.
The Lafayette Advertiser; Lafayette, Louisiana.
September 7, 1889; Page One.
A MARVELOUS FAST.
A dispatch from Indianapolis, of August 20th says:
Robert Marvel, after fasting sixty-seven days, died this morning at seven o'clock. His case is so extraordinary that it has attracted the attention not only of the curious public, but of the medical fraternity far and near. He was eighty-five years old. On June 13th Mr. Marvel ate his last square meal. For thirty-six days he took absolutely nothing into his stomach. One the thirty-eighth he bit off a piece of pie, but did not eat it. On the thirty-ninth he drank a small quantity of milk, and at irregular periods he has continued to do so. All told, he drank not to exceed one gallon of milk in the sixty-seven days that have elapsed since he began to fast. The effect of this abstinence is such as would be expected. The faster had reduced himself to a "living shadow." The case is so far beyond the extraordinary that incredulity has been excited. But there is no occasion for this, as George Hasty, a well known physician of this city, has attended him regularly. The great difficulty in treating him has been his determination to resist all proffered aid. After fasting a full month, he one day arose from his bed, and seizing a pan of water that stood near drank some of it. After that, milk and water were left near him, and occasionally he would rise and drink a little. During the last week Marvel has been bedfast, except at times when he would spring up and wander about the house and porch. Sore came upon him by reason of his long confinement, and evidently Marvel has not only suffered long but severly, though everything possible was done to relieve him.
His fast is the longest on record, so far as known. The most prominent case of voluntary fasting was that of Tanner. It will be recalled that he ate nothing and drank only water for forty days. Marvel lived with his relatives in Pike township, seven miles from the city.
The Lafayette Advertiser; Lafayette, Louisiana.
September 7, 1889; Page One.
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